Recontouring for Perfect Teeth

Fixing your smile through cosmetic dentistry doesn’t have to be a highly expensive procedure. You can reshape the contours of your teeth and make them more even, through a process called dental recontouring. The procedure involves removing small pieces of tooth enamel, thereby changing the appearance of the tooth. Recontouring is also known as odontoplasty or tooth reshaping.

Recontouring is the perfect solution when you have minor imperfections that impact your smile. Teeth that are chipped or have cracked or jacked edges, can be reshaped to smoothen the rough edges, and give an even look to the teeth. Besides cosmetic imperfections, recontouring is also used to smoothen out tiny overlaps or crevices, that can attract bacteria and ultimately lead to the development of plaque or tartar.  
Procedure

Recontouring can only be performed when the tooth structure is very strong. A weak or unstable tooth may not be able to take recontouring. Your dentist will first determine the stability of the tooth, and then locate the tooth pulp through x-rays. If the tooth pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, has thin enamel or is located close to the surface of the tooth, then it may not be possible for your dentist to perform the recontouring procedure.

Your dentist will make use of fine diamond burs to eliminate tiny amounts of tooth enamel. He may also use a sanding disk to remove these minute quantities of enamel. Besides, your dentist may use sand paper strips to polish and shape imperfections between the teeth. Once your dentist has reshaped the teeth properly, he will polish them to add shine to your teeth. 

Your dentist will not insert any artificial material into your teeth during the recontouring procedure. That’s why there may be no need for special dental care after recontouring. However, your dentist may combine recontouring with bonding to enhance the results from your procedure. Bonding involves using a composite resin to fix or repair chipped teeth and cavities.

It’s very important that patients have the right idea of what recontouring involves, so that they can avoid any disappointment later. For instance, it’s important to understand that recontouring only helps treat minor imperfections, and may not be suitable for major problems that may need more extensive treatment.  Recontouring may not be the best option for severely chipped teeth or tooth fractures. Ask your dentist to show you the kind of results that can be expected after the recontouring procedure. Your dentist may be able to show you these potential results, using a computer imaging program. 

Recontouring does not involve touching the pulp, and that’s why there is no pain involved. Your dentist won’t even need an anesthetic for the procedure. Typically, recounting is completed in one or two visits. It’s important to understand that dental recontouring can’t substitute for veneers.  As long as patients have realistic expectations, they are likely to be very happy with this quick and easy route to a brighter, more appealing smile.